Can opener



g- 1948- J. H. CHANDLER EI'AL 2,446,633

CAN OPENER Filed April 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l 53 2 1a 66 as [2 :1 6 2325 M u 34 r-Zz 35 I 36 IN VENTORS JAMES HflRl E Y CHANOL El? MYQON J. Z1MEI?- BY I 5 ATTORNEY.

Aug. 10, 1948. J. H. C'HANDLER ET AL CAN OPENER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 9, 1945 QHEIE Fly. 7.

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN OPENER ration ofIllinois Application April 9, 1945, Serial No. 587,364

Claims.

This invention relates to can openers, and its general object is toprovide a wall type can opener including wall fastening means foraccommodating the placement of the device in selected angular positionsrelative to its support.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a can opener of thistype, embodying features of construction, and design which increase itsefficiency in service and operation.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction,and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a can opener, and mounting brackettherefor, constructed in accordance with this invention and shown in theposition in which it is ready for operation.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof in the last named position.

Fig. 3 is an end view thereof in the same position.

Fig. 4 is an end view thereof in the position in which it is inoperation for removing the top of a can.

Fig. 5 is a collective view, in side elevation, with a part infragmentary side elevation, showing the relationship of the can openerframe and the wall support, before the frame is mounted on the support.

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, when theframe is mounted on the support.

Fig. 7 is a detail front view partly in vertical section, taken on line|1 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a detail front view of the wall plate shown as the mostleftward part of the wall support in Fig. 5.

Reference being had more particularly to the accompanying drawings,numeral Ill indicates the frame or main supporting member of the deviceforming the subject of this invention, and is adapted to be attached toa wall or similar vertical surface. The frame I0 is of elongatedchannel-shaped construction, and is preferably formed of suitable lightweight metal, as by die-casting. When attached to a wall, the frame l0presents a horizontal top face I l with side walls i2 extendingdownwardly from the opposite longitudinal edges of the top face. One endof the frame [0 pre-- sents a flat face H! for abutment with aconforming surface of a wall bracket, referred to more particularlyhereinafter. The opposite end of the frame 10 is curved outwardly anddownwardly coincident with the outer surface of a cylindrical boss i4having its axis at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the frameIt.

A bore extending axially through the boss 14 from opposite faces H ofthe frame in provides a bearing for a rotatable shaft 15 having threadedends it and i1 protruding from the axial limits of the bore. Thethreaded end I6 of the shaft I5 is fitted with a traction wheel ill forrotation in a plane parallel to the nearest face I2 of the frame Ill. Awasher l9 may be interposed between the inner face of the traction wheeland the face of the frame to provide a suitable wearreslstant bearingfor the inner face of the wheel I 8. The threaded end ll of the shaft I5is fitted wlth' a handle crank 20 through which the shaft 15 may beoperated to rotate the traction wheel.

A cylindrical spacing element 2| bridging the space between the sidemembers 12 of the frame Ill in inwardly spaced parallel relation to theboss I4 is also recessed to provide a bearing for a shaft 22 having ends23 projecting axially therefrom.

The reference numeral 25 denotes a plate adapted to be mounted on theframe In for swinging movement toward and away from the top face of theframe by means of ears 26 formed integrally with and extendingdownwardly from transversely aligned edge portions of the plate andattached to the ends 23 of the shaft 22. The frame It! is preferablyrecessed as at 21 so as to maintain the car 26, and the portion of theshaft 22 within planes substantially flush with the outer surface of thesides of the frame Ill and yet provide ample clearance for movement ofthe ears.

The swinging end of the plate 25 is urged to a position upwardly awayfrom the top of the frame ill by means of a coil sprin so havin one endseated in an upwardly opening depression 3| formed in the top of theframe Ill and having its other end in engagement with the lower face ofthe plate 25. An opening 32 formed in the plate 25 is adapted to haveits edges clear a lug or post 33 formed inte rally with and projectingupwardly from the top of the frame Ill in the path of the plate 25.

Reference number 34 designates a. lever mounted for swinging movement onan axis parallel to the axis of movement of the plate 25 by means of apivot 35 extending from opposite sides of the portion of the lug 33disposed above the plate 25 to which forked ends 36 of the lever 34 aresuitably fastened. Cam surfaces 31 on the ends 36 are adapted to bearagainst the upper surface of the plate 25 to depress the latter againstresistance of the spring 3|! when the lever 34 moved to upright positionas in Fig. 4, and to provide clearance for movement of the plate 25 fromsaid depressed position to an elevated position under power exerted bythe spring 30 when the lever is moved inwardly toward a recumbentposition wherein the free end of the lever 34 rests against the top I ofthe frame ID, as in Figs. 1 and 3.

Extending upwardly from one edge of the plate 25 in overhanging relationto the traction wheel I8 is an inverted U-shaped member providing arms38 and 39, presenting spaced parallel inner faces in downwardly andinwardly inclined planes. A cutting member in the form of a disc 44having a peripheral cutting edge 4| and a hub portion 42 is rotatablymounted on a shaft 43 interposed between and arranged at right angles tosaid inner faces of the arms 33 and 39. Movement of the plate 25 from araised position to a depressed position under control of the operatinglever 34, as described hereinabove, will accordingly carry the disccutter 40 in a downward path toward a position in which the lowerportion of the cutting edge will overlap and pass into close proximityto the outer face of the traction wheel I8.

Rotation of the shaft by means of the handle and thus causing thetraction wheel |8 to turn with the bead of a can 45 gripped between thecutter and the traction wheel it causes the can to turn relative to theframe Hi and the head 44 of the can to be completely severed from theside wall thereof. A projection 45 extending downwardly and outwardlyfrom the lower limits of the frame I in underlying relation to thetraction wheel presents a bearing edge 4! against which the side wall 48of the can may ride and be maintained in position to avoid spilling ofthe can contents during the can opening operation. A flange 49 extendinglaterally from the plate 25 presents an under-surface against which thebead of the can may ride to avoid tipping about an axis parallel to theaxis of the traction wheel.

Fig. illustrates a form of bracket through which the frame ill may bemounted in a horizontal position on a wall or other supporting surface.This bracket includes a base plate 50 fastened as at 5|, by screws, tothe surfaceof a wall 52, and a cover member 53. A peripheral flange 54on the member '53 extending angularly therefrom in the direction of thebase plate 50 is adapted to fit and overlap the edge of the base plate50 so that the latter is wholly concealed by the member 53. A boss 55 inthe plate 5|! is threaded to receive a fastening screw 51 which extendsthrough a counterbored opening 56 in the member 53, whereby the latteris rigidly secured to the base plate 50.

The cover member 53 is preferably formed to provide a. horizontalsupporting ledge 6|! in downwardly offset relation to a top surface 5|in the direction of the wall to which it is attached, for supporting theframe iii in extended position with its upper surface flush with saidtop surface 6|. A back wall 62 extending upwardly from the inner limitsof the ledge 50 is arranged to make a close joint with the end face l3of the frame I0 when the latter is in mounted position on the ledge Gil.The side portions of the member 53 which extend downwardly from the edgeof the top 6| are also preferably arranged to form a smooth continuationof the surfaces of the sides I! of the frame "I.

Rising centrally from the ledge 60 is a boss 54 forming a raised rim fora recess 55 of sufficient depth to intersect the counterbore 56 in thememher 53, which provides a seat for a post or spindle 56 extendingbelow the lower edges of the sides I2 of the frame in. When the spindle66 is seated in the well the flat end face I3 of the frame I0 engagesthe back wall 52 of the member 53, and the lower edges of the sides l2of the frame rest on the ledge 6|]. At the same time, the spindle 56conceals the head of the screw 51 at the inner limits of the counterbore55. A shoulder 61 created by a downwardly and upwardly offset flange 68at the lower edge of each of the sides I2 of the frame i0 is alsoadapted to engage the forward edge of the ledge 50 so as to moresecurely hold the frame ||l against movement to the member 53 aboutspindle 65 as an axis.

The flange 68 may also be longitudinally tapered to provide a pleasingcontinuation of the exposed side edges of the ledge as shown in Fig. 1.

By lifting the frame I0 sufficiently to raise the lower edge of theframe above the upper limits of the back wall 62, the frame ||I may beswung to a position in either direction laterally of its forwardlyextending position through an arc of 90 degrees and thereupon lowered toplace the end face l2 against the back wall 62, whereupon the shoulders51 engage a side edge of the ledge 50 and the frame 0 is again lockedagainst turning movement about the spindle as an axis.

In operation the cam lever 34 is moved from a recumbent position alongthe top of the frame member H to an upright position as shown in Fig. 4whereupon the cutting member 40 is lowered to a depth sufficient topenetrate the top 44 of a can 45 while the bead 49 of the can isconfined between the upper edge of the traction wheel I8 and theunderside of the flange 49. With the operating parts in this position,the side of the can 48 bears against the edge of the projection 46. Thehandle 20 is then engaged by the operator and actuated to rotate theshaft |5 and the traction wheel I8. Rotation of the traction wheel i8causes the edge 4| of the cutting member 40 to turn the can 45 and asthis is being done the cutting edge 4| of the cutting member 40 causesthe head 44 of the can to be sheared from the side wall 48. At the sametime the curved shoulder between the hub 42 and the cutting edge 4| ofthe cutting member acts upon the residual-y portion of the head 44 ofthe can still attached to the side wall 48 to be bent downwardly in aposition resting flush against the inner face of the can wall. When thehead 44 has been completely severed the can bead is still firmly securedbetween the traction wall l8 and the cutting member 40. When it isdesired to remove the can therefrom the cam lever 34 is swung from anupright position to the recumbent position shown in Fig. 1 whereupon theplate 25 is raised by the pressure of the spring 35 to lift the cuttingmember 40 a distance sufficiently above the traction wheel I8 to permiteasy withdrawal of the can 45.

It will be recognized from the foregoing description that the bore whichextends through the boss l4 from opposite faces l2 of the frame ||lprovides a bearing of a length exceeding the dimension of the framemeasured in a vertical plane through the bore whereby the shaft l5carrying the traction wheel I8 is accurately and securely supported toresist the bending forces applied on the shaft 5 through the tractionwheel |B during operation of the can opener. It will also be understoodthat the particular manher in which the cam lever 34 is swung betweenoperative and idle positions with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe frame member i l is especially advantageous from the standpoint ofconfining the operating mechanism in a restricted area compatible withthe disposal of the frame II with its long axis parallel to the wall 52on which the bracket members 58 and 53 are secured.

What is claimed is:

1. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted tobe attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose itsopposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached end andprovided with a bearing at the forward end thereof in transverserelation to the longitudinal axis of said frame, a shaft mounted in saidbearing having its ends protruding from the ends of said bearing, a canbead engaging traction wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, means fixedto the opposite end of said shaft for driving the shaft and rotatingsaid traction wheel, a plate positioned above and pivotally secured tothe frame for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said bearing,means projecting from the outer swinging end of said plate presenting apair of opposed legs spaced apart in a direction laterally of the pathof movement of said plate in over-hanging relation to said tractionwheel, a cutting wheel supported between said legs for rotation about adownwardly inclined axis and movable toward and away from a position inclosely overlapping relation to the said traction wheel during swingingmovement of said plate, a spring interposed between said plate and frameacting to resist swing ing movement of the plate in the direction of aposition wherein the cutting wheel overlaps said traction wheel, andmeans for moving said plate in opposition to said spring including a camlever mounted on said frame for movement in a path in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of the frame.

2. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted tobe attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose itsopposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached end andprovided with a bearing at the forward end thereof in transverserelation to the longitudinal axis of said frame and of a length at leastequal to the dimension of the frame measured on a vertical plane throughsaid bearing, a shaft mounted in said bearing having its ends protrudingfrom the ends of said bearing, a can bead engaging traction wheel fixedto one end of said shaft, means fixed to the opposite end of said shaftfor driving the shaft and rotating said traction wheel, a platepositioned above and pivotally secured to the frame for swingingmovement about an axis parallel to said bearing, means projecting fromthe outer swinging end of said plate presenting a pair of opposed legsspaced apart in a direction laterally of the path of movement of saidplate in over-hanging relation to said traction wheel, a cutting wheelsupported between said legs for rotation about a downwardly inclinedaxis and movable toward and away from a position in closely overlappingrelation to the said traction wheel during swinging movement of saidplate, a spring interposed between said plate and frame acting to resistswinging movement of the plate in the direction of a position whereinthe cutting wheel overlaps said traction wheel, and means for movingsaid plate in opposition to said spring including a cam lever mounted onsaid frame for movement in a path 6 in alignment with the longitudinalaxis of the frame.

3. In a can opener as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cam lever ismovable from a recumbent position above the frame to an uprightposition.

4. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted tobe attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose itsopposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached and andprovided with a hearing at the forward end thereof in transverserelation to the longitudinal axis of said frame, a shaft mounted in saidbearing having its ends protruding from the ends of said bearing, a canbead engaging traction wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, means fixedto the opposite end of said shaft for driving the shaft and rotatingsaid traction wheel, a plate positioned opposite the top face of saidframe, a pair of ears formed integrally with and extending downwardlyfrom transversely aligned edge portions of the plate, transverselyaligned recesses formed in the side walls of said frame and intersectingthe top face of the frame in which said ears of the plate are receivedwith the outer faces of the ears substantially flush with the outersurface of the side walls of the frame, means for supporting said earsin said recesses for swinging movement about an axis parallel to saidbearing, means projecting from the outer swinging end of said platepresenting a pair of opposed legs spaced apart in a direction laterallyof the path of movement of said plate in over-hanging relation to saidtraction wheel, a cutting wheel supported between said legs for rotationabout a downwardly inclined axis and movable toward and away from aposition in closely overlapping relation to the said traction wheelduring swinging movement of said plate, a spring interposed between saidplate and frame acting to resist swinging movement of the plate in thedirection of a position wherein the cutting wheel overlaps said tractionwheel, and means for moving said plate in opposition to said springincluding a cam lever mounted on said frame for movement in a path inalignment with the longitudinal axis of the frame.

5. In a can opener, the combination with an elongated frame adapted tobe attached at one end thereof to a fixed support so as to dispose itsopposite end in forwardly projecting relation to the attached end andprovided with a bearing at the forward end thereof in transverserelation to the longitudinal axis of said frame, a shaft mounted in saidbearing having its ends protruding from the ends of said bearing, a canbead engaging traction wheel fixed to one end of said shaft, means fixedto the opposite end of said shaft for driving the shaft and rotatingsaid traction wheel. a plate positioned above and pivotally secured tothe frame for swinging movement about an axis parallel to said bearing,means projecting from the outer swinging end of said plate presenting apair of opposed legs spaced apart in a direction laterally of the pathof movement of said plate in over-hanging relation to said tractionwheel, a cutting wheel supported between said legs for rotation about adownwardly inclined axis and movable toward and away from a position inclosely overlapping relation to the said traction wheel during swingingmovement of said plate, an upwardly opening depression formed in the topof the frame, a spring seated in said depression and acting against theunderside of said plate to resist swinging movement of 7 the plate inthe direction of a. position wherein REFERENCES CITED the cutting wheeloverlaps said traction Wheel The following references are of record inthe and means for moving said plate in opposition to said springincluding a. cam lever mounted on me of this patent said frame formovement in a. path in alignment 5 UNITED STATES A ENTS with thelongitudinal axis of the frame. Number Name Date JAMES HARVEY CHANDLER2,070,261 Dazey Feb 9, 1937 MYRON JACKSON ZIMMER- 2,351,531 McLean June13, 1944

